BIDAR: The State Government is yet to pay compensation of nearly Rs. 20 crore to farmers whose lands were acquired for various projects in Bidar. This is because the post of the Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) has been lying vacant since November 2004.

The Government's reluctance to fill this key post in the district administration has hampered development, and vital projects such as the Bidar-Gulbarga rail line, the Karanja Irrigation Project and the setting up of a 330 kV power distribution centre have been affected owing to this. The Karnataka Land Acquisition Act empowers the SLAO to identify and acquire land and to compensate land losers. The Karnataka Civil Service Rules stipulates that an officer of the cadre of Assistant Commissioner or Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary be posted as the SLAO. "This post needs an officer who has knowledge of the law, is good in drafting and documentation and is willing to travel. All projects that need land are bound to suffer if this post is vacant. Unfortunately, the Government has not posted anyone after November 26, 2004," a senior officer said.

To a question in the Legislative Council by Quazi Arshad Ali, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar said the Government owed Rs 19.65 crore to farmers. Some farmers in Halhipparga in Bhalki taluk lost their lands when the Government wanted to build a minor irrigation tank in 1975. They have not been compensated yet. The Minor Irrigation Department owes Rs. 3.98 crore to farmers in various projects.

The Government acquired 629.22 acres for the Karanja Project. It paid a compensation of Rs 4.76 crore. However, dues of Rs 9.06 crore are pending.

The Government has to pay Rs. 5.75 crore to farmers whose lands were obtained for the Bidar-Gulbarga rail line. For the Singur project, Rs. 50.9 lakh as compensation is pending. The Government has not yet paid Rs. 25.11 lakh for the Upper Mullamari Project and Rs. 9.63 lakh in the Chulki Nala Project.

Mr. Shettar had said the vacancy was not filled as recruitments of Karnataka Administrative Service officers had been delayed. There are vacancies in important departments such as the police, agriculture and education. On one of his transit visits to the Bidar Air Base last year, Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy promised to fill all posts in "one or two years". He is however yet to keep the promise.

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